Records of Convictions for Provincial Charges in Ontario
Do your driving convictions really disappear after 3 years? Simon says, “No!” Keep reading to find out more about how the government keeps provincial offence records and what happens to them after three years.
Background Information on Provincial Offence Records
First some background information on provincial records. The Ministry of the Attorney General in Ontario keeps records of individuals’ convictions for all provincial charges, the most common Acts being the Highway Traffic Act (HTA), the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act (CAIA), and the Liquor Licence Act (LLA). However these records are kept on an antiquated system, known as ICON, and are not easily searchable by police officers in the course of their regular duties. These records are primarily for the courts to maintain and use. ICON records are kept longer than three years.
This means that police officers aren’t likely to know about your underage drinking or public intoxication tickets when they run your name, unless you are dealing with the service that issued you the ticket, then they will probably have record of it on their own computer system.
MTO Records of HTA and CAIA Charges
The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) also keeps a records system, known as PARIS (Plate and Registration Information System). PARIS is accessed through the CPIC (Canadian Police Information Center) software, which is readily available to all police officers.
PARIS keeps track of individuals through their driver’s licence number and only deals with driving related provincial offences, namely Highway Traffic Act and Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act charges. It also keeps records of any driver’s licence suspensions, regardless of what they were from (i.e. medical, unpaid fines, racing, criminal conviction, etc). The PARIS record is what people are referring to when they speak of their “driving recordâ€.
When a police officer runs (checks) your driver’s licence number, they will see your licence status and your convictions on PARIS, as well as any points you have accumulated from those convictions. Police services in Ontario (with the exception of the OPP and MTO enforcement officers) only have access on PARIS to the last three years worth of convictions and demerit points (although points actually regenerate after only two years).
The Three Year Myth
The fact that most officers can only see the last three years worth of convictions, coupled with the fact that insurance companies usually only ask about your last three years, has led to the myth that driving convictions are wiped off your record after three years. This is not the case! PARIS keeps records of your convictions indefinitely, it’s just that most officers can’t see them. The OPP and the MTO, however, can. So remember this the next time you are asked if you’ve had any tickets in the past!
From my blog: Simon Says, Category: Police Myths
So what is this record used for past the three years? If it’s not used by insurance companies to make you pay higher premiums, is there a reason why people should care that it’s kept past three years? Where else can this surface? Will it make part of your background check for employment (if you employer wants a driving record)? Thanks!
I am in need of help due to being unfiarly treated by the french justice system ;this is gonna take me some time to exsplain as i’m unable to write and think as before my accident in 2002 in france where i was hospilised due to (hypoxie cérebrale secoudaire à une intoxicatoin massive au chlorhydrate de soude.)this was a terrible accident and is stated so in the report . I’ve been on invalidity ever since with no chance of working in a normal working enviroment with others although i can still do many things ie in the garden and little DIY jobs around the house .I was haveing problems coming to terms with my situation and started to drink more but paid the price each time as i went out in the car due to most times argueing with my french partner . after the second time of losing my licence i stopped drinking as it was causing more problems then it was worth . By this time my relationship was suffering badly as i was not understanding the french or following conversations at home ; so i decided to separed and find someone who can speak in english with me and get away from all this frustration . ON the 16 nov 2009 we was having lunch with french friends who where staying on our land ; i drunk 1 glass of white wine and tried to follow there conversations ; anyway i went into my own room as my partner and i were no longer sleeping together and watch some tv but couldn’t fall asleep so i took a sleeping pill to help me . Then my partner came to my room and started a dispute with me so i got up and went outside but she follows me and continued to argue so i got in the car and went to the local bar and had 1 half glass knowing that i’d not drunk anything since the glass of wine 8 hr’s earlier .I woke up in the hospital having had an accident i’d run into a tree ! forgetting i’d taken a sleeping tablet . anyway the police said i was speeding and that i know was not true cos since my accident in2002 i’m scared driving most days and let my partner drive ,I only drive when i’ve no choice .NOW ihad to got to court again(Décision notifée le 16 avril 2010 Date début de l’exécution le 02 mars 2010(?) Permis pouvant étre restituée le 02 sept 2010). Tribunal de grande instance de vanne CODIF.56260 jugement numéro de minute :236/10 . concentration d’alcool par lilre d’au moins 0,80 gramme (sang) ou 0,40milligramme . Now i’ve finally got my convercation A visite medical le 10 02 2011 a 14h30 I was unable to defend myself so i asked if my partne could help ,but the judge refused yet he doesn’t know the state of my invalidity and for what reasons i can’t work . yet on passing judgement he asked how long i’d been in france ,and telling the judge 10 years he said in that case learn the french properly and retake the driving code . at this moment the procurer and my partner wanted to say something but the judge smirked and dismissed them both . . NOW i’ve split with my partner and live in rented accom waiting for some kind of settlement . but my main problem is living in the countyside and unable to take my kids anywhere ,they have got to the stage whereas they dont want to come here for this reason . I FEEL AS THIS IS AGAINST MY EUROPEAN RIGHTS .
I wonder if state records like Ohio death records are managed using the same system Paris or most likely a similar one?